How to Find the Windows XP Product Key on a Crashed Drive

Your Windows XP installation disc holds your product key.

The Windows XP Product Key is a combination of numbers unique to each Windows XP installation. The number, which confirms the legitimate purchase of the software and helps prevent software piracy, is stored and encrypted within Windows XP registry files, which makes finding the information difficult. On a crashed drive, locating the key on the drive is impossible--but you can use your Windows XP installation disc to locate your product key. Alternatively, contact Microsoft to request a new product key if you do not have your disc.

Things You'll Need

• Windows XP installation disc

Instructions

1. Insert your Windows XP installation disc into a working computer's CD-ROM drive.

2. Right click the "Start" button and then click "Explore" from the pop-up menu. The Explore window opens and displays the drives and folders on the computer.

3. Click the CD-ROM drive in the left pane of the Explore window.

4. Double click the "I386" folder and locate the "UNATTEND.txt" file.

5. Double click the file to open it and scroll down to the bottom of the document. You should see "ProductKey =" on the very last line. Record the string of characters that follows the "=" sign.

References

• Microsoft: How to identify, locate, and replace a product key
• Microsoft: How to obtain a new product key for a Microsoft Office suite
• Techie-Buzz: Find Windows XP Product Key From Your Installation CD